Goverdhan Puja

Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut, is a Hindu festival dedicated to Krishna. It commemorates an event where Krishna lifted Govardhan hill on his finger to protect villagers and cattle from a torrential storm unleashed by the god Indra. This act demonstrated Krishna's divine power and compassion.

The festival involves devotees building symbolic representations of Govardhan hill and preparing numerous vegetarian dishes as offerings (bhog) to Krishna. These offerings, sometimes numbering up to 56, are arranged like a hill and then distributed as prasada. In rural areas, cattle are also decorated and worshipped. The celebration highlights gratitude for nature's abundance and devotion to Krishna.1